Track-sanding apparatus



(No Model.) 7 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. H. CURTIS.

TRACK SANDING APPARATUS. No. 591,093. Patented 001;. 5,1897.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. T. H. CURTIS.

TRACK SANDING APPARATUS.

No. 591,093. Patented Oct. 5, 1897.

W I :i Z 1am W/ a B Q i 7 i W Z 1793 w Amen/70a (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. H. CURTIS. A TRACK SANDING APPARATUS.

Patented Oct. 5, 1897.

THE NORRIS PETERS co. PHDYO-UTHQ,. wAsnmcaoN. u c

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4. T. H. CURTIS. TRACK SANDING APPARATUS.

Patented 00 13. 5,1897.

M f M is co. wowmmu, WASHINGYON. u. c.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

'T. H. CURTIS.

TRACK SANDING APPARATUS. I

No. 591,093. Patented Oct. 5,1897.

D Z ,4 7 v x ZW C q zfibz' Z L: f mi 77 //////A Min [552 5 v 5/1/5470? NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE H. CURTIS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

TRACK-SAN DING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 591,093, dated October 5, 1897.

Application filed June 26, 1896.

T0 aZZ whom it may c0nccrm- Be it known that I, THEODORE H. CURTIS, of Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Track-Sanding Apparatus and I do hereby declare that the following is a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to improve track-sanding apparatus, to more effectively feed sand to the track by a blast and by gravitation, and to insure a discharge of sand at all times when required without any choking or hindrance, the whole apparatus being readily adapted to the present designs of sand-boxes without any change in the box or piping. This object is accomplished by and this invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims, to which reference is here made for a detailed statement of my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of the sandbox located on top of a locomotive-boiler. Fig. 2 is a plan of the sand-box. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of the swing-valve and cap employed in one form of this invention. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of same. Fig. 5 is a plan of the swing-Valve and cap complete. Fig. dis a plan of the swing-valve. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the cap, showing arrangement of blast-passages. Fig. 8 is a rear view of the swing-valve. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the swing-valve and cap employed in another form of this invention. Fig. 10 is a plan of the swing-valve and cap, showing application of this invention to double sand-delivery passages for sanding more than one wheel on the same track, usually one passage to the front wheel and one to the rear wheel. Fig. 11 is a rear view of the doublepassage sanding apparatus. Fig. 12 is a plan of the double-passage swing-valve. Fig. 13 is a rear elevation of the double-passage swing-Valve. Fig. 14 is a plan View of an- Serial No. 597,037. (No model.)

I other form of this invention with blast and sand-passage entering at the side of the cap and swing-valve. Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section through the sand-passage in the swingvalve and cap. Fig. 16 is a transverse section through the sand-passage in the swingvalve and cap. Fig. 17 isa side elevation of the swing-valve and cap. Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the swing'valve. Fig. 19 is a plan of same. invention in another form adapted to sandboxes where the sand-delivery-passage cover is stationary. and cap.

In the drawings the reference-letter A indicates the sand box or receptacle in which the sand is carried.

A is the floor of the sand-box.

B indicates the sand-delivery passage.

0 indicates the cover or swing-valve, which rests on a horizontal seat formed by the bot tom of the sand-boxand covers the entrance to the sand-delivery passage.

O indicates the shank of the swing-valve,

Fig. 21 is a plan of the cover Fig. 20 is a section showing this to which is attached the lever of the swinging mechanism.

0 indicates the lugs forsecuring the sanddelivery-passage cover when stationary.

D indicates the cap.

d indicates the outer edge of the cap.

E indicates the sand-passage under the cap or in the cap or inthe cover or swing-valve or through the cover or swing-valve. The obstruction c in the sand-passage, in combination with the portion of the cap D indicated by the letter f, forms the obstruction to prevent the sand feeding through the sandpassage by gravitation alone.

G and G indicate the levers to open and close the swing-valve from without the sandbox.

K indicates the supplementary blast-sup ply pipe for the supplementary b1ast-nozzle 70.

L indicates the blast-supply pipe for the secondary blast-nozzle Z and the primary blast passage and nozzle M.

m indicates the connection between. the blast-supply L and the primary blast-passage M. l

L indicates the plug in the end of passage L, making it possible to connect the blastsupply pipe at either side of the cap.

on indicates a passage from passage L to L 9 is a retaining tap-bolt to secure the stationary cap to the cover or swing-valve.

h is a steady pin or stud to prevent the stationary cap from turning when the swingvalve is moved to open and close the sanddelivery passage.

j indicates the securing-bolt for the sanddelivery-passage cover.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows, and will be readily understood by all persons acquainted with the modern methods of sanding the track: The sand-box is filled with sand and the sand-delivery passage B isclosed at its upper stationary end by the cover or swing-valve O in combination with the cap D. The sand is prevented fro-m feeding through the sand-passage in the swing-valve G- and cap D by the obstruction e in the passage and the edge f at the commencement of the passage. The function of the stationary cap D is to prevent sand from being impacted at the entrance to the passage E and around the.- pivoted end of the swing-cover C, and it also facilitates turningthe swing-cover. The obstructions e and f are so located to each other that the sand will not feed under f and over 6 unless aided by some other power other than the natural force of gravitation. When a sand-blast is produced from the primary pipe or nozzle M, the sand is carried under the edge f into the sand-passage E and over i the obstruction e in the passage, thence by gravitation through the sand-delivery passage B to the track. The primary pipe or nozzle M directs the blast which blows the E sand from the sand-box into the sand-passage. The secondary blast Z is to blow'through the passage E or a part thereof and insure a positive passage of all sand or particles through the sand-passage. It is necessary at times to place the sand-delivery passage B or a part thereof so nearly level or horizontal that the sand will not feed through it by gravitation, and it is not desirable to furnish sufficient blast or volume of air from the secondary blast-nozzle Zor primary blast M or both to carry it through. To furnish a volume of air sufficient to carry sand through the sanddelivery passage B from its upper end, located at the cover or swing-valve, to its lower end, located close to the track, the supplementary sand-blast 7c is introduced, deriving its supply from the pipe K.

To sand the track without the aid of the sandblast, especially necessary when the sand-blast fails from any cause, the cover to the passage B is made in the formof a swingvalve 0, with the shank O extending-through the floor of the sand-box, and to 'this shank is attached a suitable operating device to. open 1 and close the upper end of the sand-delivery passage 13 from without the sand-box and thereby regulating the supply of sand, which feeds by gravity, to the passage B. The shank C or its equivalent .is made in any form to properly connect the swing-valve to the opening and closing device common to the sandbox to which this invention is applied. If not convenient or desirable to have an opening and closing attachment, the cover is or may be attached to close the sand-delivery passage B in a manner as set forth in Figs. 20 and 21. No special mode of attachment is required.

The sand-delivery-passage cover is formed with a sand-passage E therein and if in the form of a swing-valve to have an extended 1 portion or shank to attach a mechanism suitable to swing the valve. The upper or top of i the swing-valve is cylindrical and located centrally over the shank. The upper or top of the swing-valve is not limited to the cylindrical form, as other forms may be substituted. The outer end of the swing-valve is made thin or flat. to present the least surface possible to, the sand when being swung open and closed over the passage B.

The stationary cap D is located over the cover or swing-valve and attached thereto or attached to the sandbox. It is optional which manner of attachment is employed. The stationary capv is located on or over the swing-valve. Its form is preferably cylindrical, with its edges extended downward to obstruct the sand from entering the swingj valve or cover or entering the surface between the cap and the swing-valve.

The blast-passages K k, L Z, and 'm are 10- cated in the stationary cap, with the primary blast pipe or nozzle M tapped into the stationary cap.

The effectual working of this invention does not necessitate one or more of the blast-passages to be located in the stationary cap or 1 attached thereto; but it does require that one or more be placed in proximity thereto. The blast. pipe or nozzle M may be entirely sepa- 3 rate from the stationary cap and yet have its nozzle or delivery end in exactly the same relation to the sand-passage and produce the same result as if it were attached to the stationary cap. This invention includes the blast-passages separated from the stationagy cap. I

The edge f may be extended downward to such a relation to the bottom of the sand-box or the swing-valve seat that the obstruction e in the sand-passage E may be nearly, if not entirely, done away with, the edge f being quite some distance from the sand-delivery passage B and also close enough to the floor or valve-seat to prevent the sand from passing through E with sufficient angle to feed bygravitation alone. Very clean sharp sand 'will not feed by gravity at much less than I twenty degrees from the level.

Figs. 14: to 18, inclusive, show a form of cap and swing-valve adapted to take the blast and sand passage from the side and not from the rear, owing to the construction of the sand- ,box not permitting of taking from the rear of 1 the swing-valve or cover. The. sand-passage E is formed both in the cap and in the cover or swing-valve. The cap is formed to fit the cover or swing-valve, with downward-extended edges fitting over the top of the cover or swing-valve. However, this cap and cover may be formed not cylindrical, but semicylindrical, with the cap fitting neatly to the cover or swing-valve and thus making greater contraction possible.

The drawings show the blast pipe or nozzle M in a horizontal position and in the form of a curved pipe without any contraction at its delivery end to concentrate the force of the blast. The horizontal position is highly favorable, as the sand cannot choke the blastpassage.

I do not limit myself to use any one form of blast pipe or nozzle or limit myself to placing the blast pipe or nozzle in a horizontal position.

The term sand-delivery passage herein employed is intended to apply to the sandpassage from the sand-box to within. a short distance of the track, and is indicated by the referencedetter B.

The term sand-passage herein employed is particularly intended to apply to the sandpassage leading from the top of the sand'de-- livery passage to the exterior of the swingvalve and stationary'cap.

The terms swing-valve, swing-valve or cover, cover, and sand-delivery-passage cover herein employed are particularly intended to apply to the part which closes the upper end of the sand-delivery passage and are movable or stationary.

The term stationary cap herein employed is intended to apply to the cap or roof over the swing-valve or cover, and it may be at-,

tached to the swing-valve or cover .or independent thereof and attached to the sand-box proper.

The term blast herein employed is intended to apply to the compressed air or any other substance employed instead to agitate and carry the sand.

It is evident that various changes might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. Hence I do not limit myself to the construction herein set forth, but consider myself entitled to all such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

That I claim is- 1. In a track'sandin g apparatus, the combination of a sand-delivery-pipe cover having ondary blast opening into said passage, substantially as described.

3. In a track-sanding apparatus, the combination with a sand-delivery pipe, of a horizontal seat with a sand-discharge opening therethrough, said discharge-opening connecting with the sand-delivery pipe; a swingcover with a sand-passage therethrough resting upon said seat, said passage connecting with said openings, a stationary cap fixed above the entrance to the passage, said cap being separate from the swing-cover, and a primary blast to blow the sand under said cap into the passage and through the opening, substantially as described. A. In a track-sanding apparatus, the combination of a swing-cover having a passage therethrough, and a stationary cap fixed above the opening to said passage, with a primary blast to blow sand under said. cap into the passage, and a secondary blast opening into said passage, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a track-sanding apparatus, of a cover having a passage therethrough, a stationary cap above the cover, a primary and a supplementary blast, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a track-sanding apparatus, of a cover having a passage there through, a primary blast, a secondary blast, and a supplemental blast, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in a track-sanding apparatus, of a swing-cover, having a passage therethrough, a stationary cap fixed above the cover, a primary'blast, a secondary blast, and a supplementary blast, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE H. CURTIS.

Witnesses:

R. S. MILLER, S. L. HAMILTON. 

